Body Bags Filled with GI Joe and Jane: No Homecoming Trumpets
for the fallen?

Axis of Logic Editorial, September 23, 2003

By Vincent L. Guarisco*
Sep 23, 2003, 16:00

"Americans have been taught that their nation is civilized and humane.
But, too often, U.S. actions have been uncivilized and inhumane."~~Howard
Zinn, historian and author

Did Uncle Sam always have such a cold, black heart?

I know many of you are still wrapped in the flag, but can you at least pull
it down past your eyes and ears for minute? The mouth area on down can remain
star-spangled and entwined. I appreciate your cooperation. I need your quiet,
patriotic attention.

Notice anything missing in the news media since all this war business started?
Where is all the media attention for the more than 300 fallen military servicemen
who have been killed in Iraq and shipped back home? I ask again -- has anyone
heard the trumpets blaring or seen cameras clicking in patriotic fever as the
body bags arrive and unload from military cargo planes? While I'm on the subject
-- has anyone seen any televised funerals or heard any interviews with relatives
of the deceased who are not happy campers? Hardly anything? Hmmmm, go figure.

I apologize for asking such disturbing questions, but duty calls in the wake
of duplicity, and simply waving the flag is not enough, in fact it's not even
close. If we want to call ourselves true American patriots, it's our duty to
"ask questions," and lots of them. When considering all the brave
souls who have given their lives for country and cartel, perhaps asking questions
and demanding honest answers will be the true battle cry of our times.

Listen up:

For the record -- It's not my intention or desire to disrespect or dishonor
our soldiers by calling the Bush administration a "cartel." Let me
make one thing perfectly clear; our soldiers are our nation's bravest treasure
...

Our society is purposely shielded from such upsetting details of homebound
fatalities because the Makers of War want us to have a more pleasant, picturesque
impression of war without the imagery of loss and death. It's a full-blown media
blackout which acts as a nerve-block for the masses. Like they say -- out of
sight, out of mind.

There are several layers of skin to this war business -- more than most Americans
will ever imagine: The Project for a New American Century (PNAC) did not blink
an eye when fabricating terrorist scarecrows for our peaceful garden for the
sole purpose of germinating a conflict, another Pearl Harbor event was complementary
to their goal and of public record. Most of us who dissent already understand
the matrix. For those of you who are now beginning to awaken -- welcome to the
PNAC Era of Bloody Oz. We welcome you with open arms for your involvement in
helping us restore order to our traumatized nation.

The Bush regime proved it can successfully market high-tech wars to those watching
on the sidelines -- TV clips of successful flight missions with bombers lighting
off missiles on the horizon...Old Glory flying on tanks and Bradley vehicles
rolling over distant sand dunes. Sprinkle a little homegrown-footage showing
clear-channel pro-war attendees chanting and performing body waves and -- voila!
-- it goes down the gullet like mother's milk. For those of you who attended
these rallies, we hold no grudge. We are happy to have you on our side of the
aisle marching now for peace instead of war.

The following will help our mission for peace: Televising dead or mutilated
sons, daughters, uncles, aunts, friends and those not mentioned arriving home
in gift-wrapped body bags has a reverse effect -- it quickly diminishes the
flavor of the anticipated selling points of war and hostile occupation. Don't
be fooled by the terminology -- war, hostile occupation, covert action, nation-building
or whatever name you choose to give it is a deadly commodity manufactured, packaged
and sold to the American consumer by elites who stand to gain immensely.

Make no mistake, such slaughter is engineered and carried into play from a
safe distance (at no risk) to those who desire acquiring all the worlds natural
resources on the planet. Unlike the rest of us poor souls who are forced to
engage in battle, it's cut and dried; we're all considered expendable. I'm sure
those who died would not mind being exploited for peace -- after all, it was
a falsely propagated war that killed them in the first place...

These 21st century power brokers have no remorse and will sacrifice innocent
lives for their selfish gain. Our loss is very real, and so it seems--becoming
a casualty of war is not the last sacrifice. A final paragraph is written for
the fallen in disappearing ink, a final insult before closing the last cryptic
page -- a dead handshake, a zipper bag and a silent homecoming so as not to
scare away future recruiting efforts and replacements. If there is a God, I'm
sure He has a special place for those who do these horrible things.

The Bush cartel leaves no stone unturned, aside from the dead they have the
living to manipulate. They fully understand that virtually every soldier who
serves in Iraq is being exposed to high amounts of radiation from the massive
amounts of depleted-uranium munitions that were exploded and handled
during the war including many other deadly toxins and carcinogens (this includes
munitions dropped in 1991).

I suspect, not long ago a baby vulture must have landed on Bush's shoulder
and whispered into his ear that the VA Risk Management boys projected several
hundred thousand medical illnesses will quickly arise, thus creating several
hundred thousand medical claims to come flying through the VA system in the
aftermath of all this. I'm sure that evil birdie also informed him of the astronomical
genetic birth effects that will surely affect their children for generations
to come. Yep, the good `ol boys really know how to prioritize risk management.

Being a man of action Bush rose for the occasion and immediately slashed VA
benefits and healthcare. Be advised--he made these cuts while soldiers were
engaged in combat ... Bottom line-America deserves better! This is the overpowering
inspirational cry that transmits commentary such as this onto your computer
screen, a beckoning desire for a kinder, caring establishment that reflects
our best interest and good will ...

We don't have to be governed by fear and deception! A wise leader is a musical
sharpshooter who orchestrates a poetic song for our peaceful prosperity, a gentle
administrator who establishes a rhythmic expression that harmonizes a dance
for everyone's joyful theatrical score. A true leader is a visionary who will
aim softly, pull graciously, and deliver compassionately our target of transitory
dreams. A leadership so marveled that it births an envious fellowship that is
mimicked by the neighboring spectators around us.

For that dream and for the memory of those who fell to keep the American dream
alive I demand we make them all accountable for their actions.

I admit I hold very little respect for today's politicians; even for the ones
within my own Democratic Party, for most have forgotten whom they serve. But
if I could ask for one small concession -- one little request -- it would be
that every official who voted in favor of going to war be required to unzip
each body bag that returns home and view the contents inside. After doing so,
they must attend each funeral within their home states, and then look into the
eyes of each family member whose life was destroyed and confess if they made
the right decision in authorizing such wanton destruction.

I would also ask that each American who takes a pro-war position also take
a pilgrimage to Arlington Cemetery in Virginia -- and, while they're at it --
visit the Vietnam Memorial in DC.

If anyone can do all that and still wrap himself in the American flag while
shouting for war, then perhaps we really do have a valid enemy who threatens
our safety. But as it stands right now, our own worst enemy is within.

*(Vincent L Guarisco is a freelance writer from Bullhead City, Arizona, a contributing
editor for Axis of Logic and a lifetime member of the Alliance of Atomic Veterans.)